Just three weeks ago, the Washington Redskins had some playoff promise with rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III thriving right before a big matchup with the New York Giants. Three consecutive losses later in Washington, and Redskins coach Mike Shanahan already is looking to next season and beyond with his 3-6 team.

After their latest defeat, 21-13 at home to previously one-win Carolina, Shanahan told reporters Sunday the remainder of 2012 will become more of an evaluation process for next season.

Mike Shanahan is looking at his Washington Redskins players to see how much fight they have left, though it appears he has little after a sullen postgame press conference Sunday. (AP Photo)

“You lose a game like that, now you’re playing to see who obviously is going to be on your football team for years to come. I’ll get a chance to evaluate players and see where we’re at," Shanahan said. "We’re not out of it statistically, but now we find out what type of character we’ve got and how guys keep on fighting through the rest of the season."

Although Griffin and productive rookie running back Alfred Morris have given the Redskins a youthful look in reviving their offense, the defense, especially against the pass, has been the big problem all season. That problem grew after early season-ending injuries to Brian Orakpo and Adam Carriker up front, putting more pressure on a struggling secondary. It was on full display as Cam Newton and the Panthers picked Washington apart.

The Redskins, however, still have several playoff-hungry veterans, such as inside linebacker London Fletcher—a one-time Super Bowl winner with the St. Louis Rams—who must be frustrated by their coach’s comments. Two such players told the Washington Post that Shanahan shouldn’t have gone public with waving the flag, but fellow linebacker Lorenzo Alexander went on record with the Post.

“You have a lot of guys that want to win now, people toward the end of their careers who have been here a long time, haven’t been to the playoffs in a long time,” Alexander told the Post. “Ultimately, that’s what you play for, to get to the Super Bowl.”

It’s no doubt Shanahan’s influence in the decision to trade up to draft Griffin and ability to steal Morris as his most recent late-round feature back are positives in his favor. But given how demanding owner Daniel Snyder is, Shanahan the coach will also merit close evaluation in the final seven games of the season.

Looking at how bad the defense has become, there will be plenty of jobs at stake there, including coordinator Jim Haslett. Seeing Shanahan’s mass overhaul of the offense this season, the other side of the ball should prepare to be similarly blown up for next season.